Airdrie council postponed a decision on a request to amend the City’s smoking bylaw to allow the establishment of a Shisha bar in the community, June 18.
After a presentation by Sunita Dave and Arshad Ali of Airdrie restaurant Shalimar Cuisine, council requested staff return with more information on Shisha, which is fruit-flavoured leaves that are burned using coal, passed through and ornate water vessel and inhaled through a hose.
According to Dave, the Shisha bar would only be open after 7 p.m. to adults. Dave added the ventilation system is already in place within the East Indian cuisine restaurant, which does not serve alcohol.
“I’m not a supporter of smoking in public places in any way,” said Alderman Kelly Hegg. “I would like to hear from staff.”
The motion to have staff research and make a recommendation regarding the request for amendment of the bylaw, put forward by Hegg, was unanimously supported.
Waterworks bylaw
City council unanimously approved all three readings of the Waterworks Bylaw, June 18.
The bylaw, which was last updated in 2008, has been two years in the making and was crafted to better reflect the bylaws of other cities, such as Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Calgary.
The biggest change is the addition of Cross Connection Control Devices (CCCD), which prevent the backflow of water. The devices will now be required on all new or renovated buildings that use Airdrie water.
Also added to the bylaw is a clause to prevent water running from a lot into a street or swale for a distance of 30 metres.
The penalty for breaching the bylaw is $1,000 for a first offence and $2,500 for each subsequent offence. In default of payment, violators could be imprisoned for up to six months.
Construction trailer
The City of Airdrie is purchasing a $23,000 construction-site trailer from the City of Calgary.
The 16-foot trailer, which was built in 1978, has bathroom facilities, a first aid station with supplies and fresh drinking water. It will be used on construction sites around the city, providing a place to store and view drawings, eat lunch and store extra parts.
According to the staff report, often employees don’t take breaks because it is inconvenient to do so. In addition, the report stated employees lose about two hours per day retrieving parts.
The trailer has been inspected and is expected to last at least 10 years. The total cost to purchase and make the trailer operational with new tires, a generator and a concrete coring machine is $35,000, a $74,000 savings over a new unit.
The money will be taken out of the Fleet Asset Management Reserve portion of the capital budget.
